Chapel in ruins — Gartlandstown

Situated on rising ground in an area of good pasture-land on the boundary between Gartlandstown and Ranahinch. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as ‘Chapel-in ruins’ standing inside a rectangular shaped enclosure. Present remains consist of a much overgrown site covered with trees and bushes. Only the grass covered wall footings survive of the chapel (dims. 17m NW-SE; 7m NE-SW) dedicated to St. Eoin (The Schools’ Collection, Vol. 0719, p. 613), standing in N quadrant of a rectangular shaped enclosure (approx. dims. 30m NW-SE; 25m NE-SW) defined by a poorly preserved earthen bank and external fosse. No traces of headstones or burial markers inside this enclosure. Possible penal chapel of 17th or 18th century date. According to local folklore the church known as 'St. Eoin's Chapel' was believed to be three hundred years old and that 'it was built at the time the Catholic people of Ireland were being persecuted for the faith. Near hand the church there is a holy well' (The Schools’ Collection, Vol. 0719, p. 613). Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 16 April 2017